The Arizona STEM Acceleration Project

National Parks Research Project

National Parks Research Project

A 4^th & 5th grade STEM lesson

Sarah France

6/22

Notes for teachers

This was done as an end of the year project. Perfect for wrapping up our last unit of the year (life sciences).

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There are multiple links to resources within this lesson.

List of Materials:

• Student chromebooks (for research)
• Art supplies for project
• (optional) Printouts for student notes
• (optional) Projector for videos & instructions

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4^th Grade Standards

4-ESS2-2. Analyze and interpret data from maps to describe patterns of Earth’s features.

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4-ESS3-2. Generate and compare multiple solutions to reduce the impacts of natural Earth processes on humans.

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4.E1U3.9 Construct and support an evidence-based argument

about the availability of water and its impact on life.

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5^th Grade Standards

5-ESS2-1. Develop a model using an example to describe ways the geosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and/or atmosphere interact.

5-ESS3-1. Obtain and combine information about ways individual communities use science ideas to protect the Earth’s resources and environment.

5-LS2-1. Develop a model to describe the movement of matter among plants, animals, decomposers, and the environment.

Objectives:

Students will conduct research on a National Park of their choosing and compile the information into a project to be presented.

By the end of the project, students will be able to present information about a National Park of their choosing. This will include where it’s located, the biome, what types of plants and animals are present, what there is to do there, and what makes the park unique.

Agenda (Introductions)

Agenda (Project Research)

Agenda (Project Research)

Intro/Driving Question/Opening

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What is a National Park? What is the purpose of National Parks? Why are there so many different National Parks?

Students begin by learning about the history and background of the National Parks Service in the United States. They then are given time to explore the different National Parks, where they will choose which park they want to research and create a presentation of.

Introducing National Parks

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1. Play the documentary “National Parks Adventure”
• Free on YouTube
• Video Guides available on Teachers Pay Teachers OR students can take notes on parks that are interesting to them (brainstorming for their project)
2. Give examples of different national parks
• See the slides following this one
3. Introduce different biomes via the national parks
• See the slides following this one – be sure to read the notes on each slide for instructions on presentation
4. There are many articles on Read Works and NewsELA for kids to read about National Parks (both sites are free)
• This zip file has a few examples

What is a National Park?

A National Park is a scenic area protected by the government for the enjoyment of people and preservation of land and wildlife that live there.

Examples of National Parks

Acadia National Park�Maine

Examples of National Parks

Bryce Canyon National Park�Utah

Examples of National Parks

Glacier National Park�Montana

Examples of National Parks

Grand Canyon National Park�Arizona

Examples of National Parks

Great Smoky Mountains�North Carolina

Examples of National Parks

Joshua Tree National Park�California

Examples of National Parks

Olympic National Park�Washington

Examples of National Parks

Rocky Mountain National Park�Colorado

Examples of National Parks

Yellowstone National Park�Wyoming

Examples of National Parks

Yosemite National Park�California

Examples of National Parks

Zion National Park�Utah

Examples of National Parks

What is a Biome?

A biome is a community of plants and animals that live together and survive together in a certain environment.

5 Major Types of Biomes

Grassland

Forest

Desert

Tundra

Aquatic

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Sequoia National Park

Saguaro National Park

Denali National Park

Dry Tortugas National Park

Grassland

5 Major Types of Biomes

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Forest

5 Major Types of Biomes

Sequoia National Park

Forest

5 Major Types of Biomes

National Park of American Samoa

Forest

5 Major Types of Biomes

National Park of American Samoa

Sequoia National Park

Desert

5 Major Types of Biomes

Saguaro National Park

Tundra

5 Major Types of Biomes

Denali National Park

Aquatic

5 Major Types of Biomes

Dry Tortugas National Park

Hands-on Activity Instructions

• Depending on class size – students can work in pairs or on their own (I let my students decide)
• Each day, give students a focus for their research.
• Location, Biome, & History
• Animal and Plant Life
• Things to do & Sights to See
• What Makes the Park Special
• Final Research Day (catch up for whatever they didn’t have time to research; or a day to compile their research into one category)
• Have students find information from three separate sources/websites
• NPS.gov is very helpful, or the travel websites specific to each park
• Discovery Ed also has a channel on National Parks

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• Once all research is done, students will create a presentation on their national park.
• I let students decide what they would like to do, but it needed to include all the information they had researched
• Examples:
• A slideshow presentation
• A diorama or model of their national park
• A poster or flyer advertising to tourists
• A video

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Assessment

Students will present their presentation at the end for assessment.

The presentation should include all the information they researched.

Students should be able to answer basic questions about their national park (e.g. where it is located, what is it known for, what kind of biome/environment it is).

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Differentiation

Student works in a group of three instead of in partners

Fill-in-the-blank notes or graphic organizers can be provided to keep research organized

Keep folders and projects in class so they are not forgotten at home

Remediation

Extension/Enrichment

Students can write a research paper, create a video, animation, or podcast based on their national park

Have students take notes on their peers presentations

Engineering challenge of designing an activity/attraction to be added to their national park